EastEnders Tamwar Masood star Himesh Patel look unrecognisable 8 years after BBC exit
EastEnders star Himesh Patel looks worlds away from Tamwar Masood after quitting Albert Square for Hollywood.
He may be best known for his role as Tamwar Masood on EastEnders, but actor Himesh Patel looks completely different these days.
At just 16, he received a call on the day of his GCSEs inviting him to audition for the show, leading to his first appearance on October 1, 2007. Over the years, Tamwar was involved in several compelling storylines, including navigating family pressures and various romantic relationships, notably with characters like Afia Masood and Nancy Carter.
After nine years on the soap, where he and co-star Meryl Fernandes won the Inside Soap Award for Best Wedding in 2011, Himesh left in 2016 to explore new opportunities. Since then, he has broken into Hollywood, starring in films such as Yesterday and Tenet.
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Looking back on his career, Patel, now 33, said that his time on the BBC soap really helped shape him as an actor. He realised that it was more important to value the craft of acting than to chase fame and shared how the show's hectic pace and demanding schedule taught him to work hard and push himself.
"I had the fortune of working closely with a lot of actors while on the show who had either been trained or had gone on different, interesting paths to get there, and who therefore valued the work of being an actor as opposed to the fame of being an actor.
"At that impressionable age, to know when to say yes and when to say no and when to take a step back and go to the root of everything—that was really important."
Earlier this year, the star opened up about how he suffered "slight imposter syndrome" after transitioning from the small screen to Hollywood.
Speaking to The Independent, he admitted, "I think I still have slight imposter syndrome about the whole thing, because people aren’t meant to go on that journey."
Continuing, he explained, “That’s not meant to happen. You’re not meant to do nine years on EastEnders and then get the lead role in a Danny Boyle movie," referencing the Beatles-centric musical flick Yesterday.
"I’m glad I’m an example that it can be done. I hope I’m not the last young actor who establishes themselves on a soap."
